Today’s Kootenay Granite Stone Soup Challenge featured dancing chefs and two delicious, diverse soups

Today’s semi-final match-up in the Kootenay Granite Stone Soup Challenge was an extra special event: the Salvation Army cook of more than 11 years, Kathy Morey, took on Executive Chef Rusty Cox of The Heid Out Restaurant and Brewhouse. The two had a ton of fun cooking, creating, laughing, and even dancing.

Chef Cox has more than 18 years of culinary experience as a chef in first-rate restaurants and resorts around the globe. But his accomplished resume didn’t automatically make him today’s safest bet. Morey has been running the Salvation Army kitchen for more than a decade. She knows the kitchen, the ingredients, and the clients.

And today, that knowledge propelled Morey to the win. Her beef barley soup was narrowly voted in favour of Cox’s ginger chicken soup.

“The whole thing so far has been so much fun,” said Morey. “It’s been nice to have the chefs in the kitchen and it’s awesome to see the growing community awareness. A lot of people don’t know what goes on here, and it’s important they do. Really, we’re all winners from this event.”

“It’s been an awesome experience,” said Chef Cox, who is also a professional ice carver. “Kathy and I had a good time today, and are already coming up with some ideas for next year’s challenge: tying the competing chefs together maybe?”

Both semi-final events are sponsored by College of the Rockies Professional Cook Training. The other semi-final event will be held this Friday and features Chef Doug Wagner of St. Eugene Mission Resort and Chef Shelby Schiller, BJ’s Diner and Creekside Pub, Kimberley.

Morey will compete against Friday’s winner at the grand finale event on March 4, noon to 1:30 p.m. at the Prestige Rocky Mountain Resort and Convention Centre, which is not only sponsoring the final event, but providing the Grand Ballroom, staff, and food.

This ensures all funds raised at the event go directly towards the Salvation Army homeless shelter project and Cranbrook and District Community Foundation general endowment fund, which provides annual grants to local non-profits.

Tickets to the public event are available in two prices: $25 for lunch; or, $45 for lunch and a $20 charitable receipt. They can be purchased with cash at Max’s Place or by calling 250-426-1119.

Cranbrook and District Community Foundation

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